Cure quest: the science of stem cell research

The parents of a young girl diagnosed with leukemia hope she will be cured by an injection that replaces the diseased cells in her body. The treatment was developed through the research of stem cells. These cells are undifferentiated, meaning they have not yet become a specific type of cell, such as a blood or nerve cell.

Although the potential for stem cells remains unknown, scientists hope that further stem cell research will lead to cures of diabetes, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and more. The search for cures has met resistance as the ethical debate over the use of stem cells continues.